Organisation of the Criminal Justice System

• 4 main parts of the Criminal Justice System


  • Law Making and Administration
  • Law Enforcement
  • The Courts
  • Punishment
• Law Making and Administration

  • Passing of the criminal laws by Parliament and the running of the justice system by government departments
• Law Enforcement


  • By the Police
• The Courts

  • Prosecution and Defence decide the outcome of criminal cases
• Punishment

  • Consequences for an offender by the prison or probation service
• Agencies in the criminal justice system


  • Police
  • Ministry of Justice
  • HM Courts & Tribunals
  • Crown Prosecution Service
  • HM Prison Service
  • National Probation Service
  • Sentencing Council
  • Campaigns for Change
• Police

  1. Receive and act upon contact from the public

  2. Have specialist teams such as CID

  3. Provide 24/7 service, and funded by the government
• Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

  1. Prepare the case for court and attend the hearings

  2. Use a Full Codes Test to decide whether or not to prosecute

  3. Headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and funded by the government
• Courts (including judiciary)


  1. Decide mode of trial hearing

  2. Magistrates' court with lay magistrates

  3. Crown Court with jury and judge

  4. Aspects such as structure, funding, working practices and reach